138. Roy Eldridge / The Nifty Cat (1970)

Roy Eldridge as leader? Has the moon come down? He didn't lead much, didn't even record much after 1960, and I wasn't aware of this disc until spotting it at my library. The personnel is interesting. There's Budd Johnson whose skills in arranging, tenor and soprano sax are the perfect fit for Eldridge's brand of jump and small group swing. The bass is by Tommy Bryant, a musician of great skill and style, and one who seems underappreciated today. On drums is perennial session man Oliver Jackson, piano is 'Countalike' Nat Pierce, and perhaps my favorite man on the album is Benny Morton on trombone. His inventory of different sounds and licks is inexhaustible and the 'bone brings a touch of old school class to the proceedings (check him out on the lazy "Jolly Hollis," or "Ball of Fire"). "Cotton" is a deep and stormy blues carried by an appealingly mysterious piano and bass figure. Eldridge sings the humorous blues "Wineola," also getting a nice solo in the tune, and things really cook with Eldridge's "Ball of Fire," filled by a lot of riffing and Eldridge showing off his famous range. The closer is the title track with solid work from everyone. I especially enjoy Eldridge's first solo. There's a good mood throughout the set, and I'm thankful for this disc given how much the trumpeter worked but did not record. It's definitely worth finding.

83. Benny Golson / Gone with Golson (1959)

Rooted in Don Byas, et al., Golson takes at least one conservatively melodic chorus before stepping out a little farther. He's a very melodic player overall, but by the end of his turn, he's rushing ahead like a steam locomotive of emotional force. His arrangements and compositions are superb. In those furious bursts of energy it's easy to see his influence on Coltrane, but the leader's skills as composer also attracted Trane. Like the peculiar resolutions in "Soul Me" which work within, rather than toward, the gospel mode to ply such an intriguing charm. As for sidemen, Curtis Fuller is indispensable, transcending the slide and keenly harnessing the dynamic capabilities of his horn to make sympatico statements after Golson (try "Autumn Leaves). Brothers Ray and Tommy Bryant are an important unit whether it's comping, impeccable timekeeping, or taking their own choruses. So is Al Harewood felt, together about as solid a rhythm section as you could ask for. There's no Art Farmer in sight, but this isn't a Jazztet date and it's nice to watch Golson fly on his own, as it usually is.